Register is developed

A NEW register is being created that plans to create job opportunities and improve care for older and disabled people in Northumberland.

The “Support Worker Register” is being developed by Northumberland Care Trust for older and disabled people who use a personal budget and want to employ a personal assistant.

The register will state who people are, what hours they want to work and what particular interests they have, so that older and disabled people can get better information to recruit personal assistants.

Personal assistants can help older and disabled people to be more independent by supporting them with a range of things including help with getting around, and doing daily tasks like cooking.

Northumberland Care Trust is managing the development of the support worker register and is providing additional funding so that it can be rolled out across the County. It is hoped that the scheme will be developed by April 2011.

Fiona Horsman, transformation programme manager who is leading on this work, said: “The development of the register is at very early stages but it is hoped that once this is established it will help people to recruit staff with similar interests, and give them peace of mind that the support workers listed have met a range of criteria and received some level of basic training.”

The scheme received funding from Northumberland County Council with support of the North Area Committee in September 2010.

The personalisation of social services and support aims to offer people greater choice about how they are supported by Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Care Trust.

For more information on the personalisation of adult social services in Northumberland visit www.northumberlandcaretrust.nhs.uk/puttingpeoplefirst or contact the Transformation Team on (01670) 394417 or by email at ppf@northumberlandcaretrust.nhs.uk